Rahman Dahlan: Economy will be Bersih 4's victim

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan has urged the Bersih 4 rally to be postponed, warning that it will have an adverse impact on the economy in an already challenging economic environment.

"The Bersih 4 timing is bad. Malaysians are losing billions and jobs. Don't stoke the economic fire even more. Be responsible. Postpone it.

"Bersih 4 should be wise. This is the time for calm and composure in light of the global economic meltdown. Even just for a few weeks," Rahman said in a series of Twitter posting.

Ultimately, he said, ordinary Malaysians will become the victims if the economy is affected.

"We are facing global economic crisis and clearly Bersih 4 organisers don't care about the best interest of us Malaysians.

"The immediate victim of Bersih 4 massive demo will be the economy. Then you as ordinary Malaysians. Then the politicians. In that order!" Rahman said.

Even after the Bersih 4 protest, he said, the government would survive, but the same cannot be said for ordinary Malaysians.

"No doubt, government will still be standing after Bersih 4 protest but if the demonstration causes the ringgit to slide a pip or two, more Malaysians won't be," he said.

Bersih 4 is to protest against scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as well as to press for sweeping reforms.

Najib had come under siege for his handling of 1MDB, which is struggling to repay its debts and also the deposits of RM2.6 billion into his personal bank accounts.